Hydrosilylation is an industrially relevant catalyzed transformation of adding a silicon-hydrogen bond across a carbon–carbon or carbon–heteroatom multiple bond. The organosilicon products from this reaction can be polymerized into durable silicone products, which are incorporated into materials that we use on a daily basis (e.g. car tires, hair products, apparel, etc.). There are two regiochemical outcomes: formation of the linear or the branched product. Current industrial practices utilize highly active Pt-based complexes, which typically favors the linear product. Despite its high selectivity, challenges in using Pt catalysts exist, including the requirement of excess olefin, Pt nanoparticle formation, and a lack of available conditions to form the branched products. Due to these undesirable aspects paired with limited Pt resources, there is motivation to find alternative, Earth-abundant hydrosilylation catalysts. We have developed [Ni(NHC)(alkene)2] (NHC= N-heterocyclic carbene) complexes that are active and branched-selective hydrosilylation catalysts. The substrate scope of the silanes is broadened to secondary and tertiary silanes. The unconventional product selectivity of these Ni catalysts has led us to further investigate the complex properties that invoke branched selectivity. We will report on the effects on catalyst reactivity and selectivity through altering the ligand coordination sphere to construct structure-property relationships to further advance current Ni hydrosilylation systems. Preliminary results on mechanistic studies will also be presented.

Investigation of unveiling the properties that induce unconventional nickel reactivity for styrene hydrosilylation

ACS Fall 2020 Virtual Meeting

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